Trade Unions

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to propose legislation to provide for(a) the right of trade unions to extend collective bargaining issues to include pensions, equality and training, (b) the right to be represented by a union representative in grievance and disciplinary hearings, (c) employment rights starting from the first day of employment, (d) the removal of thresholds required to be achieved to win trade union recognition, (e)recognition rights to companies of less than 21 workers, (f) a guaranteed right to strike without being in breach of contract, (g) qualifying criteria for non-independent unions to meet in order to gain recognition in an organisation, (h) an increase in penalties for those companies refusing to comply with reinstatement orders from tribunals and (i) the right of workers to be represented by the union of their choice; and if she will make a statement. [161965]

The Government's policy in this area is set out in our Review of the Employment Relations Act 1999. Copies of the public consultation document (published in February 2003) and the Government response to consultation (published last December) are available in the Libraries of the House. Those findings of the Review that require primary legislation are being taken forward in the Employment Relations Bill currently before the House.